The last major-league team to hit for the cycle in order in consecutive at-bats was Colorado on June 6, 2008, versus Milwaukee.

Ryan Sweeneysingled after Jackson's homer, but Tampa Bay starter Wade Davis then retired 17 in a row before leaving.

"It felt like he invented a pitch, to be honest with you," Jackson said of Davis' turnaround. Davis said he used his curveball more and went after the A's hitters less aggressively, which threw them off balance.

Once Davis left, the A's added single runs in the seventh (a solo homer by Kurt Suzuki), eighth (an RBI grounder by DeJesus) and ninth (RBI single by Scott Sizemore).

"Usually when a five-run lead disappears, for a pitching-rich team like us it can be demoralizing," manager Bob Melvinsaid. "But we picked it up and battled to the end."

For the first time since September 2007, the A's have scored four or more runs in eight consecutive games.

Jackson has hit safely in eight games, batting .406, and Pennington's career-best hitting streak is at 12 games (.455).

Doing good: Many A's players have been involved in community efforts during this home stand, with a particularly standout performance from left-hander Craig Breslow, whose Strike 3 Foundation presented Children's Hospital of Oakland a $25,000 grant this week to entirely fund a teen cancer support group and siblings program.

A's on deck

Leading off

Barton's shoulder: Dr. Lewis Yocum found no definitive tear in the labrum in Daric Barton's right shoulder, assistant general manager David Forst said. Yocum will consult further with doctors for the A's and Triple-A Sacramento.